Police Service Commission to be in place by March

President David Granger says that the members of the Police Service Commission will be appointed at the end of this month or in March.

During an interview with reporters on Thursday, he said that the appointments will follow that of the Public Service Commission.

“Once the matter of the appointment of a Chairman of the Public Service Commission is agreed, that [the appointment of the Police Service Commission] will follow. I had an engagement with the Leader of the Opposition so we’ve settled the Teaching Service Commission and the Integrity Commission and we will move on to the Public Service Commission- once that is done, I hope as quickly as possible, maybe during February or March, that Commission will be in place,” the Head of State said.

The life of the Police Service Commission expired last year and the President also placed a hold on police promotions due to concerns raised.  The President had stated that the selection process at the Commission had been compromised and “and it would not be in the public’s interest to proceed with those nominations.”

Halting the promotions were then deemed unconstitutional by the court.

As it relates to the Public Service Commission, the constitution states that it shall consist of six persons; three members appointed by the President after meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, two members upon nomination by the National Assembly and if the President thinks fit, one other member appointed by his Excellency, acting in accordance with his own deliberate judgment.

The life of the last Commission came to an end in August 2017. The commission was Chaired by Carvil Duncan while the members were Cecil Seepersaud, Desmond Hope, Vidyawattie Looknauth and Vera Naughton.